Measuring top for containers



July 12, 1938. s. E. DONELSON 2,123,720

MEASURING TOP FOR CONTAINERS Filed July 3, 1936 ,fiobizE Donelsow INVENTOR ATTORNEY BY myzm a.

Patented July 12, 1938 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFlCE 2,123,720 MEASURING TOP FOR CONTAINERS Scott E. Donelson, Marion, Ohio Application July 3, 1936, Serial No. 88,699 4 Claims (cl. 221-402) This invention relates to dispensers especially adapted for dispensing granular or powdered matter such as tooth powder from a. container and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which may be readily added to a container during the manufacture thereof without materially increasing the cost of the latter and which besides providing an eflicient closure for the container, will permit the contents of the container to be dispensed in predetermined amounts by a simple manipulation thereof and also will act to force the measured amount from the container.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention,

reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary end view, partly in section, illustrating a container equipped with a dispenser constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the position occupied by the dispenser prior to the dispensing operation.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the dispensing element.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary end view, partly in section, illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'l--'! of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure '7.

Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating the dispensing element of my modified form of invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral I indicates a conventional type of container employed for granular or powdered material such as tooth powder and is equipped with the usual discharge neck 2. In adapting my invention to a container of this kind the discharge neck 2 is closed by an end wall 3 in which is formed a slot 4. Extending centrally through the end wall 3 is a rivet 5 formed on a cover 6. The cover 6 overlies the end wall 3 and is of the flanged type, as shown at I, and further is provided with a discharge opening 8 adapted to move into and out of register with the slot 4 when desiring to dispense the contents of the container. Mounted on the rivet 5 and fixed thereto is a 5 dispensing element 9 of substantially segmental shape. The element 9 is adapted to rotate with the cover 6. The element 9 tapers from one edge towards an opposite edge to form thereon a cam face I0 opposing the end wall 3. The ele- 10 ment 9 due to its shape, provides a portion of a helix so that during the rotation of the element 9 it will produce a feeding action on the container content. The cam face I0 cooperating with the end wall 3 acts as a follower for 15 the purpose of urging the material in the neck 2 when the container I is inverted towards and through the slot 4. The neck 2 with the dispensing element 9 located therein presents a chamber or space of a size that will accommodate 20 a certain amount of the content of the container when the latter is placed in an inverted position so that on rotating the cover to align the opening 8-thereof with. the slot 4, the dispensing element sweeps or pushes material in the space 25 or chamber towards and through said slot or opening 8 so that only the proper amount of material will be discharged for use on a tooth brush for a cleaning operation of the teeth.

Spaced stops II are arranged in the neck 2 30 for the purpose of limiting the rotation of the dispensing element 9 in opposite directions, also the cover 6. The dispensing element 9 when engaged with one of the stops places the opening 8 of the cover out of alignment with the slot 4, 35 consequently closing the container. The dispensing element 9 when moved from engagement with the last-named stop to engage the other stop brings about the aligning of the opening 8 of the cover with the slot 4 so that during said move- 40 ment of the dispensing element the container I will be opened so that the predetermined amount of the content of the container acted on by the dispensing element will be shoved towards and through the slot and the opening 8. 45

Referring to my modified form of invention, as shown in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive, the cover 6 is eliminated and the neck 2 of the container I is provided with a discharge opening I2. A rivet I3 is rotatably supported by the end wall of the 50 neck 2 and has secured to its outer end a-finger piece I4. A dispensing element I5 is secured to the rivet I3 and is of substantially segmental shape, as shown in Figure 9. A partition I6 is formed in the neck 2 and extends from the at- 55 tached portion of the element IE to one edge of the opening l2 and has a compound curve, as clearly shown in Figure 8. One edge of the dispensing element l has a compound curve 11. Between the edge I! and the partition [8 is formed a chamber in the neck to receive an amount of the content of the container 1 when placed in an inverted position and with the dispensing element I5 in engagement with a stop I 8. The amount of content received in said space is sufficient or proper for one cleaning ofthe teeth. To dispense the predetermined amount of material or powder from the space, the finger;

piece I4 is manipulated, moving the dispensing element l5 from the stop l8 towards and in engagement with the partition l6,: causing the measured amount of material to be swept towards and through the opening l2.

The element l5 when moved into engagement with the partition I5 closes the opening I2 and consequently prevents the content of the container from escaping accidentally or during the non-dispensing operation.

While I have described my invention as principally adaptable to containers for tooth powder, it is to be understood that my invention may be successfully employed on any container wherein it is desired to dispense the contents in measured amounts and to act as a closure for the container.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a' container having a neck provided with a slot in'the end of said neck, a substantially segmental-shaped dispensing element journaled in the neck and tapering from one edge to another edge thereof for cooperating with the neck when in one position to define a space of a size to receive a predetermined amount of the content of the container, and means for moving said element from said position towards the slot to sweep the measured amount of the content towards and through the slot.

2. In combination with a container having a neck provided with a slot, a pin journaled in the neck, a dispensing element secured to the pin and located in the neck and cooperating therewith when in one position in defining a space of a size to receive a predetermined amount of the content of the container, a cap having an opening secured to said pin and acting to close the slot during said position of the dispensing element and may be rotated to open the slot by aligning the opening with said slot and to bring about movement of the dispensing element from said position towards the slot to sweep the measured amount towards and through the slot and opemng.

3. In combination with-1acontainer having a neck provided with agslot, a, pin journaled in the neck, a dispensing element secured to the pin and located in the neck and cooperating therewith when in one position in defining a space of a size to receive a predetermined amount of the content of the container, a cap having an opening secured to said pin and acting to close the slot during said position of the dispensing element and may be rotated to open the slot by aligning the opening with said slot and to bring about movement of the dispensing element from said position towards the slot to sweep the measured amount towards and through the slot and opening, said dispensing element tapering from one edge towards another edge to form a cam face, which cam face diverges from a wall of the neck.

4. In combination with a container having a neck provided with a slot, a pin journaled in the neck, a dispensing element secured to the pin and located in the neck and cooperating therewith when in one position in defining a space of a size to receive a predetermined amount of the content of the container, a cap having an opening secured to said pin and acting to close the slot during said position of the dispensing element and may be rotated to open the slot by aligning the opening with said slot and to bring about movement of the dispensing element from said position towards the slot to sweep the measured amount towards and through the slot and opening, said dispensing element tapering from one edge towards another edge to form a cam face which cam face diverges from a wall of the neck, and stops for limiting the rotation of the dispensing element in either direction.

sco'r'r E'. DONELSON. 

